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Doesn’t look like Nanaia Mahuta’s managing to convince many to get on board with her big water reform plan. 

She announced the details today of how the country’s water network will be split into four regions but Whangarei District Council already pulled out yesterday.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff hasn’t pulled out yet but judging by the level of shade he’s publicly dumping on the plan, it sounds like he’s planning to.

Kaipara’s not sure, Christchurch has doubts, Napier and Clutha too. 

So far, not so good. 

You can tell that the government is losing the PR battle with councils by the fact that they’re now trying to convince you and I they’re releasing full page newspaper ads and video ads to get us on board.

Which I suspect they hope might lead to us putting pressure on our councils.

But it’s annoying councils who think it’s a slap in the face for the way they’ve managed water and  Local Government NZ – the organisation representing councils – says it’s “deeply disappointed with the overly negative and unsophisticated way” the ads are treating the water reforms. 

Well I’m not holding my breath that Nanaia’s going to get this one through.  

I don’t blame councils for objecting. 

Take for example Auckland Council. 

Owns $10 billion worth of water that you and I – if you’re an Auckland ratepayer – have paid for over years.

If we amalgamated with the other northern councils above us geographically, we would be contributing 92 percent of all the water assets.

We would get in return less than 40 percent control so we’re literally giving our assets away, then we have to share control with mana whenua just adding layers of bureaucracy, and then we have to help pay to connect Kaipara’s ratepayers up to water because only one quarter of them have reticulated drinking water. 

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Sell it to us Nanaia, cos you’re not convincing us. 

It looks a lot like the minster is losing the battle right at the start of this campaign. 

I’m not sure how she’ going to salvage it. 

She’s always got compulsion up her sleeve where she can force us to give up our assets 

But good luck trying that one on.  

If mayors are angry now, they’ll worse at the thought of that.